High court seeks reply on running of electric buses in Uttar Pradesh

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad high court has asked the state government and central pollution control board to file their counter affidavits (reply) within three weeks pertaining to running electric buses for public transport as provided under the National Auto Fuel Policy 2003.

The bench comprising chief justice DB Bhosale and justice Yashwant Varma passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Dr KK Mishra of Jaunpur district.

Mishra, in his PIL, requested the court for implementation of faster adoption and manufacturing of (Highbrid) electrical vehicles of India (FAME scheme).

The petitioner contended that under the scheme electric buses may be used for public transportation in place of diesel buses in major cities as well as on national highways within a period of 3 to 5 years.

The court has asked the state government’s counsel and the counsel for central pollution control board to file affidavits giving details about the steps taken for implementation of FAME scheme.

However before asking for counter affidavits, the bench was not satisfied with the plea observing that it was the policy matter in which the court normally did not interfere.

On this, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that in the NCR ‘Graded Action Plan’ was implemented and in the same way FAME scheme could also be implemented in other major cities and national highways of Uttar Pradesh.